Face Shields Market

Market Overview

The Total Addressable Market (TAM) for Face Shields was valued at USD 650 million in 2021. It is expected to reach USD 1.17 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 6.8% during the forecast period (2022–2030).

Face shields are personal protective equipment (PPE) worn to shield the entire face from risks like flying objects, splashes, and other potentially infectious substances. The mucous membranes of the eye, lip, and nose are protected by it, along with the facial area. It is used in various end-user industries, such as the construction, oil and gas, medical, automotive, aerospace, manufacturing, and marine sectors. A face shield shields the face from harmful chemicals, body fluid sprays, splashes, and sprays of body fluid. Face shields come in various shapes and sizes depending on the end-use sector and application.

Market Dynamics

Global Face Shields Market Drivers

High Demand in the Healthcare Industry

It is anticipated that the need for advanced medical infrastructure will increase due to the growing health concerns brought on by the aging population and unhealthy lifestyles. This will likely further fuel the demand for medical goods and equipment over the forecast period. In the upcoming years, the demand for personal protective equipment like face shields is also anticipated to increase due to growing awareness of healthcare-associated infections and the spread of COVID-19-like infections. The baby boomer generation's retirement from the workforce has caused a shortage of medical professionals in Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) nations. As a result, national governments have been compelled to increase enrollment in nursing and medical education programs, increasing demand for medical products over the forecast period.

Technological Advancements and Digitalization in the Face Shield Market

The demand for new technologies and product innovations in the face shields market has increased due to a global shortage of face shields in the healthcare and hospitality industries. As a result, numerous producers worldwide are making significant investments in the research and development of these goods. Numerous universities and educational institutions worldwide are manufacturing face shields for frontline workers using 3D printing technologies to meet the rising demand. For instance, an open-source face shield design was created by New York University to assist small manufacturers or new market entrants in growing their manufacturing capacities. Apple has also begun producing face shields in the millions for frontline personnel to meet demand. Additionally, Italian designers have developed a 180-degree inflatable face shield for stores and restaurants that prevents droplets containing the coronavirus.

Global Face Shields Market Restraints

Volatility in the Prices of Raw Materials

Polycarbonate, acetate, polyethylene terephthalate glycol, and other materials used to manufacture face shields are derived from crude oil, a highly volatile commodity in terms of price. Thus, the fluctuation in crude oil prices has an impact on the cost of face shields, which hinders market expansion.

Global Face Shields Market Opportunities

Growing Use of Eco-Friendly Materials

The emergence of eco-friendly reusable face shields and the rise in awareness of safe working conditions in both developed and developing economies present new market opportunities. For instance, a Bengaluru college suggested a specific kind of biodegradable material at a recent innovation challenge on Covid-19 because disposing of PPE kits is becoming more and more difficult. Also, many firms are investing a lot in the use of eco-friendly materials, which is expected to create tremendous opportunities for market growth over the forecast period.

Regional Analysis

By region, the global face shields market is bifurcated into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Central and South America, and the Middle East and Africa.

North America Dominates the Global Market

North America is the most significant shareholder in the global face shields market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.6% during the forecast period. The world's largest and most significant economy is found in North America. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the region experienced significant growth as a result of the industry dynamics and commodity abundance in its member states. The three countries in the region—the United States, Mexico, and Canada—have sizable and intricate economic systems. The market is expected to benefit from rising healthcare costs, an aging population, and increasing awareness of healthcare-acquired infections among medical professionals. In addition, the COVID-19 outbreak has had a particularly negative impact on parts of North America. It is anticipated that expanding industries, including chemicals and manufacturing, particularly in the United States and Canada, will favor market growth. The presence of several significant face shield producers in the area, including 3M, Cardinal Health, and Medline Industries, Inc., are expected to accelerate the market's growth over the forecast period.

Europe is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.65% over the forecast period. Many of the world's largest economies, including Germany, the UK, France, Spain, Italy, and Russia, are present in Europe. The region's economic growth is attributed to several factors, including supportive policies, robust wage growth, and ongoing job creation. However, it is anticipated that the recent COVID-19 outbreak in several nations in the region will have a profoundly detrimental effect on its economic growth. The use of face shields in new construction and renovation projects is anticipated to increase due to lower mortgage rates in Europe. However, the region's construction industry is predicted to suffer from high labor costs, which is anticipated to hinder market growth over the forecast period.

Asia Pacific's healthcare sector is anticipated to grow steadily over the forecast period. Expanding healthcare facilities, such as hospitals and clinics, increasing the number of people choosing home care facilities, and rising medical tourism in the area are significant drivers of the growth. The demand for healthcare services is anticipated to increase due to the expanding population and the growing elderly population, which will, in turn, fuel the growth of the face shield market over the forecast period. Product demand in the region is expected to be fueled by growing investments in the manufacturing, chemical and petrochemical, food and beverage, and construction industries. The demand for face shields is anticipated to be driven by strict regulations regarding employee health and safety in various high-risk activities over the forecast period.

Central and South America's population is aging due to longer life expectancies, lower birth rates, increased prevalence of non-communicable and chronic diseases, and expanding healthcare coverage. The number of public-private partnerships in the healthcare industry is growing. Therefore, over the forecast period, the development of face shields in the region is anticipated to benefit from expanding healthcare infrastructure and the healthcare industry. In addition, the pandemic caused a global and regional shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE). As a result, organizations like the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) provide health and hygiene products to governments and families throughout several countries to address the PPE shortage.

Expanding existing hospitals' medical offerings, market shares, and physician practices in the Middle East and Africa has increased demand for PPE items for the healthcare industry, such as gloves, masks, protective clothing, and face shields. The need for healthcare services is increasing due to shifting epidemiological and demographic trends, which is expected to increase demand for face shields in the coming years.

Segmental Analysis

The global face shields market is segmented by product and end-user.

By Product Analysis

Based on the product, the global face shields market is bifurcated into full-face and half-face shields.

The full shield segment is the highest contributor to the market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.6% during the forecast period. In many end-user industries, full-face shields are the preferred option for eye and face protection because they shield the wearer from splashes, debris, optical radiation, and heat radiation. Propionate and polycarbonate are two materials that are frequently used to make visors because they provide better optical quality that helps to reduce eye strain. A wide variety of visors are given advanced coatings to improve their anti-fogging, anti-static, and anti-glare qualities, as well as their scratch resistance and ultraviolet light protection to prolong their useful lives. The bottom of full facepiece visors typically reaches the chin, and neck/face-length visors also cover the neck region. Face shield producers should benefit from rising demand for face shields in the healthcare sector due to the coronavirus outbreak and rising workplace safety awareness across various end-use industries over the forecast period.

Pre-hospital emergency medical personnel, laboratory workers, veterinary care professionals, dental professionals, and healthcare workers frequently use half-face shields because their faces are frequently contaminated by bodily fluid sprays, spatters, and splashes. For the best protection, half-face shields are used with masks and an optional pair of goggles. Half-face shield windows are available in various colors and tints, thicknesses, shapes, and materials depending on the specific application. Due to the ease of customization and flexibility of 3D printing techniques, many manufacturers and educational institutions are producing face shields in response to the rising demand for them during the coronavirus pandemic. Few nations intend to restart their manufacturing sectors to strengthen their respective economies, which is anticipated to spur segment growth over the forecast period.

By End-User Analysis

Based on end-user, the global face shields market is bifurcated into healthcare, construction, chemical, oil and gas, and manufacturing.

The healthcare segment owns the highest market share and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.5% during the forecast period. Face shields used in healthcare facilities are in short supply due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases. Face shield use has increased due to strict government regulations in the U.S. regarding the security of medical professionals, patients, and other employees on hospital grounds, as well as severe penalties for standards violations. Additionally, these goods are used in the healthcare sector to safeguard staff members against various infections and health risks. The demand for face shields is likely to rise in response to rising government concerns about employee health and safety as well as an increase in coronavirus cases, primarily in the economies of India, Brazil, Russia, and the United States due to a lack of adequate protective equipment. Many manufacturers were compelled to convert their equipment and begin producing face shields to keep up with the rising demand due to an increase in government funding and the implementation of the defense production act in the United States.

Acetate face shields are widely used in chemical applications because they offer excellent optical clarity and rigidity. Face shields made of acetate also have high impact resistance, excellent oil and grease resistance, and can withstand cracking over a wide temperature range under everyday stress. It also offers high flexibility over an extended period and does not deform at average temperatures. Face shield producers should benefit from increased worker-related fatal accidents in the chemical sector over the forecast period.

Recent Developments

• October 2022- New custom matrix technology from 3M Oral Care made restorative procedures more predictable for dentists and affordable for patients.
• March 2020- Honeywell International Inc. announced the expansion of manufacturing capabilities in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S., to manufacture N95 face masks to support the U.S. government’s response to Covid-19.